Commissioning the Twelve

10 Summoning his twelve disciples,^(A) he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every^[a] disease and sickness.^{[b](B) 2} These are the names of the twelve apostles:^(C) First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;^{[c] 4} Simon the Zealot,^[d] and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.^(D)

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan^(E) town. ⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep^(F) of the house of Israel.^{(G) 7} As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{(H) 8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,^[e] drive out demons.^(I) Freely you received, freely give. ⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{(J) 10} Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^(K) is worthy of his food. ¹¹ When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ¹² Greet a household when you enter it,^{(L) 13} and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{(M) 14} If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^(N) when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(O) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^(P)

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{(Q) 17} Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^[f] and flog you in their synagogues.^{(R) 18} You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{(S) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^(T) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^(U) of your Father is speaking through you.^(V)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{(W) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^(X) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{(Y) 23} When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^(Z) For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ A disciple^[g] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^{(AA) 25} It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!^(AB)

Fear God

²⁶ “Therefore,^(AC) don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(AD) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^[h] proclaim on the housetops.^{(AE) 28} Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; ^(AF) rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.^{(AG) 29} Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?^[i] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s^(AH) consent.^{[j] 30} But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^{(AI) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(AJ)

Acknowledging Christ

³² “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.^{(AK) 33} But whoever denies me before others,^(AL) I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. ³⁴ Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^{(AM) 35} For I came to turn

³⁷ The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; ^(AO) the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Anyone who finds his life will lose it,^(AP) and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.^(AQ)

A Cup of Cold Water

⁴⁰ “The one who welcomes you welcomes me,^(AR) and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^{(AS) 41} Anyone who welcomes a prophet^(AT) because he is a prophet^[l] will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous^[m] will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives^(AU) even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,^[n](AV) truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”